Cog Hill Golf & Country Club’s Dubsdread course is one of the most well-known public golf courses in Illinois and one of the biggest public golf names near Chicago.
In this Course Spotlight on the Illinois Golf Podcast, Brett Smith highlights why Dubsdread stands out in Illinois golf. It offers golfers something a lot of people want from a public course: real name recognition, championship feel, and a reputation that reaches far beyond local play.

If you are searching for Illinois golf, Chicago golf, public golf in Illinois, Cog Hill, Dubsdread, or golf near Chicago, this episode gives you a quick look at one of the strongest public golf destinations in the state.
The Illinois Golf Podcast is part of Golf Podcasts USA, America’s only local golf podcast network. Search Illinois golf podcast to find the show, or explore the full network at golfpodcasts.org.

​Travel planning: golfpodcasts.org/expedia

​YouTube Link: 

​Michael Ambriz, VP of Operations for World Long Drive, joins Golf Podcasts USA to discuss how World Long Drive local qualifiers work, how golfers can move through the three-step qualifying process, and why long drive continues to grow through golf expos, PGA TOUR Superstores, and live fan events. This episode is a great fit for Illinois golf fans who follow competitive golf, golf technology, indoor golf, swing speed training, and equipment innovation. We also talk about the athleticism of long drive, specialized driver setups, and the excitement surrounding local qualifiers and the road to the World Long Drive Championships. If you follow Illinois golf, golf podcasts, long drive golf, or the future of competitive golf entertainment, this episode is for you.

​The Players Championship 2026 is here, and Golf Podcasts USA is calling Scottie Scheffler to win at TPC Sawgrass. In this short golf preview, Brett Smith talks about why The Players is considered the unofficial 5th major, what makes TPC Sawgrass such a pressure-packed test, how the island green at 17 can change everything, and why Scottie feels like the right pick against one of the strongest fields in golf. If you follow PGA Tour golf, golf betting storylines, golf news, and major championship-level events, this Players Championship preview is for you. Golf Podcasts USA is the voice of local golf in all 50 states. Just Google your state plus golf podcast and find the full catalog at golfpodcasts.org.

​Abbey Algiers joins Golf Podcasts USA for a wide-ranging conversation on Illinois golf travel, the record-setting Chicago Golf Show, club fitting, Spain golf, and the golf tourism trends shaping 2026. This episode is especially relevant for Illinois golfers looking for golf trip ideas, golf travel inspiration, preseason equipment insight, and a better understanding of why golf tourism is booming right now in both the United States and Europe.

In this episode, Brett Smith and Abbey talk in depth about the Chicago Golf Show, which drew more than 18,000 people to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center near O’Hare Airport. Abbey was there Friday through Sunday for her first time at the show and shares what stood out most, including the energy on the floor, record attendance, travel exhibitors, simulators, putting contests, merchandise, and major appearances from names like Hank Haney and Bubby from Good Good Golf. The episode also explores why golf shows still matter in 2026, especially for golfers who want to compare destinations, ask questions directly to travel experts and tourism boards, and hear the human stories behind golf trips before they book.

For Illinois golfers, this episode has an especially strong local connection. The Chicago Golf Show is one of the clearest signs that golf interest is surging in the Midwest, and Abbey explains why these events are so useful for trip planning, discovering destinations, and finding golf experiences that go beyond a single round. Travel exhibitors from destinations such as Gulf Shores, the RTJ Trail, Links of Ireland, and other golf regions were on hand telling their stories firsthand, which is exactly why golf shows remain valuable for golfers who want more confidence and more context before making travel decisions.

Club fitting is also a key part of this conversation. Abbey shares her PXG fitting experience at the PXG store in Northbrook, Illinois, where she learned that her irons were too stiff and too heavy for her swing. Through a more personalized fitting process, weight adjustments and better specifications helped dial in a setup that fit her game much better. That leads into a useful conversation on why club fitting matters for everyday golfers, not just elite players, and why Illinois golfers should consider doing an equipment audit before the season gets fully underway. If you are thinking about new clubs, trying to improve consistency, or simply wanting to play better golf in 2026, this section of the episode is especially practical.

The travel conversation in this episode goes well beyond Illinois. Abbey talks about the rise of golf tourism, the growing interest in destinations like Gulf Shores and the RTJ Trail, and why family-friendly golf travel is becoming a bigger part of the industry. Golfers are no longer satisfied with hearing only about weather and course conditions. They want the full experience: great golf, good food, memorable lodging, local culture, activities for the whole family, and a destination that feels worth the trip. That broader trend is also what makes Abbey’s expertise in Spain golf so valuable in this conversation.

Abbey brings a strong perspective on Spain golf and why Spain and Portugal continue to attract so much attention from golfers planning international trips. She discusses regions like Costa del Sol, Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, and other areas where golf, scenery, history, and broader travel experiences all come together. That international angle helps frame the bigger story of this episode: golf tourism is booming in 2026 because golfers want more than just a tee time. They want a full experience, whether they are traveling in the Midwest, the South, or across Europe.
If you are interested in Illinois golf, Illinois golf travel, the Chicago Golf Show, club fitting, PXG Northbrook, Spain golf, Midwest golf trips, golf tourism, golf travel trends, or planning your next golf trip, this episode is for you.

Learn more about Abbey Algiers at www.abbeyalgiers.com

​Explore the full Golf Podcasts USA catalog at golfpodcasts.org

​Jack Dillon joins Golf Podcasts USA for our “In My Opinion” segment — a short-form golf business and golf industry commentary series featuring smart voices from across the game.

Jack is a two-time author, Golf Inc. Magazine contributor, and longtime golf business expert. In this episode, we talk about golf growth, course hospitality, player development, off-course golf, and how the industry can do a better job keeping new golfers engaged for the long term.

We also discuss why courses need to stay connected to golfers after the round, how group instruction and better hospitality can help retention, and what operators, brands, and media companies should be thinking about over the next 90 days.

Learn more about Jack at www.youdontknowjackd.com

Read his Golf Inc. commentary here: https://golfincmagazine.com/commentary/

​Golf Podcasts USA is America’s only local golf podcast network, with golf podcast coverage in all 50 states and beyond. Explore the full catalog at golfpodcasts.org.

Pressure in golf shows up as shaky hands, fast tempo, and that “don’t mess this up” voice. In this Golf Podcasts USA coaching series (Mental Game), PGA Master Professional Coach Claude Brousseau — Director of Player Development at Wailea Golf Academy — shares a simple mental cue / self-talk system you can use under pressure.

In this episode:
• The one cue Coach Claude gives golfers when they feel shaky
• Process vs behavior cues (breath/target vs tempo/finish)
• How to replace outcome-thinking (“I need par”) with a useful thought
• A quick 10-second breathing + cue routine before any shot
• Scenarios: first tee jitters, late-round score protection, short par-save putts, match-play moments

Coach Claude links:
• https://claude4bestgolf.com/

• https://waileagolf.com/Academy/Meet-The-Director

Planning a Maui trip? Support the show:
✈️ https://golfpodcasts.org/expedia

Find your local show: on Spotify search your state + golf.
Full catalog: https://www.golfpodcasts.org

Instagram: @GolfPodcasts

Golf Podcasts USA was featured by FORE! Fridays from PGA of America Women’s Clinics—a big credibility moment for the network. In this short update, Brett Smith shares what “local at scale” means, what the feature highlighted, and what’s coming next across all 50 states—including our shift to shorter, on-demand mini-episodes (golf news, course spotlights, and tips). We also touch on Masters Week—opening day for golf in most of the country—and how brands can plug in at peak season.

​Read the feature: https://www.pgawomensclinics.com/so/bePn3LjVy?languageTag=en
Partnerships / Masters Week timing: https://golfpodcasts.org/brett

Everyone has a bad hole — the triple-bogey avalanche. In this Golf Podcasts USA coaching series (Mental Game), PGA Master Professional Coach Claude Brousseau (Director of Player Development, Wailea Golf Academy) teaches a step-by-step 30-second reset to stop one blow-up hole from turning into two or three more. 
 
You’ll learn: 
The exact 30-second reset (what to do first, second, third) 
What you’re resetting: emotion, attention, breathing, and decision-making 
The difference between a between-holes reset (walking off the green) and a next-tee reset (before the next shot) 
The #1 mistake that creates the blow-up-hole spiral 
A 10-second emergency reset when you’re still mad 
 
More from Coach Claude: 
claude4bestgolf.com 
waileagolf.com/Academy/Meet-The-Director 
 
Planning a Maui trip? Support the show: 
✈️ golfpodcasts.org/expedia 
 
Follow Golf Podcasts USA and find your local show: search “[Your State] golf” on Spotify. 
 
Full catalog: golfpodcasts.org 
Instagram: @GolfPodcasts ​

​Golf Podcasts USA is America’s local golf podcast network — covering golf stories, course spotlights, and golf culture across all 50 states (plus destination feeds).

In this episode, Brett Smith interviews Aboo Tayub, founder of Golf Business Technology, to break down the future of golf technology — and why simulator golf and tech-integrated range golf are becoming major “entry points” for new golfers.

We talk about the indoor golf boom, what stood out at the PGA Show, and how the driving range experience is evolving into a more social, gamified form of “range golf.” We also get into virtual tournaments, what formats like TGL signal about where the sport is headed, and how operators are using technology to make golf more accessible and more fun.

Topics covered:

Simulator golf and the rise of indoor golf

Tech-integrated driving ranges + range gaming

Social sim golf, gamification, and virtual tournaments

AI in equipment and the future of golf tech

Data-driven fitting and what “proof” looks like (results you can measure)

Swing data that translates to on-course improvement

Coaching technology, including remote coaching

Apps and tools like PuttView for reading greens and improving putting

✅ Full show catalog (all states): golfpodcasts.org
📌 Follow the show and share this episode with a golf buddy who’s into sims, golf tech, and the future of the game.

​Special Episode — Golf Podcasts USA

Golf Podcasts USA is America’s local golf podcast network — covering golf stories, course spotlights, and golf culture across all 50 states (plus destination feeds).

In this special episode, Brett Smith interviews author Rich Poggi about Fairways and Greens: a Novel — a story where golf becomes a metaphor for life decisions: second chances, legacy, and the shot you never planned to hit.

About the book: Doug Parker is the protagonist — once destined for PGA Tour stardom until injury and self-destruction changed everything. Decades later, he’s rebuilt his life teaching the game with discipline and purpose at the club where he grew up… while fighting to keep that golf-only club alive in a changing world — until a phone call from his past forces him to confront what he thought he left behind.

If you love golf stories that feel real — this one’s for you.

✅ Full show catalog: golfpodcasts.org
📸 Instagram: @GolfPodcasts
🏌️ Cobra gear: golfpodcasts.org/cobra
✈️ Travel planning: golfpodcasts.org/expedia
🎲 Ledgenz: golfpodcasts.org/ledgenz (availability varies by state; play responsibly)

I’m Brett Smith. Thanks for listening—and always remember to tip your cart staff.